Elder William Perry's Mission Address

Elder William Neldon Perry
Finland Helsinki Mission

Neitsytpolku 3 A 4 FI
00140 Helsinki
Finland

Send all mail to the mission home above

email:
william.perry@myldsmail.net

Serving from
March 2011 to March 2013



Monday, February 27, 2012

February 27, 2012

So I didn't move haha. I talked to President about a new apartment because of some crazy things like the Lindex! Dang naughty huge posters! Put a missionary out for a week! We had to put sheets over the windows because the blinds didn't work! Satan disabled our blinds! Then we stacked boxes, and stuff over everything... gosh so crazy!

yksi lause teille... When in doubt, send it to the mission office. I can have them send it to me for just a few euro's, or get it at zone conference. Plus you need to do that anyway now because now there wont be enough time for it to get to me if I get a change call. Which are this weekend. haha Did you put like a new kidney in
the package for me?? I think it will be okay haha.

Anyways, don't have to much time today. I just got a recording from Tyler. Super hilarious.

Anyways, things are going so great here. We had a little bit of a slower week as far as numbers are concerned, however, we did work hard, and we saw a lot of blessings.

I also think I broke my leg... Totally kidding! Funny story really fast. There were four missionaries, and we were at the Toropaiset. We were eating, and everyone asked about birthdays haha. I was like March 1st, the big 20... It's a big step for me haha. Everyone started busting up haha. Then their daughter who is also turning twenty said the same thing haha! So funny!

This work is so much fun! I luuuuv it haha. By the way, if everyone could not give me a weekly countdown of how much time I have left on my mission, that would help me stay focused haha. Example. Elder Perry I want you to stay focused, work hard, and love life, because you only have 53 weeks left on your mission (I'm not on my mark yet). That is exactly what you shouldn't do, and you all know who you are!

Love you all so much,

Willie Bear (uh... hmm.... Elder Perry)

February 29, 2012

Wow what a week!

Elder Larsen and I have had a lot of funny/spiritual/elder perry making a schmuck out of himself on the phone with president rawlings... week haha. I'll start with the later haha. So a couple of days ago on the phone President called us. It was after Elder Larsen had just barely talked with him on the phone about our new apartment! (which is a different story). He said, can you ask the bishop if we can visit your ward next week haha. I said, of course. I called, and our bishop said, yeah that would be great!. I called president back and reported. He said, so sister rawlings and I can speak right?? Dangit! Elder Perry's heart hit the floor, and just
about jumped out the window haha. I said, oh you wanted to speak? ha haha ha. "Yes Elder Perry." I said I'll call you back in a minute haha. It really wasn't that big of a deal, but I'm pretty sure my next transfer will be into the office, as juice box elder or something. Hopefully I can keep my name badge!

So we had so many experiences where the Lord's hand was in the work! well.. duh... this is His work. Anyways, A few weeks ago we contacted this lady at the pizza place after a meeting. She ended up saying we could come back sometime. Well, on Elder Larsen's birthday we felt we should go "eat lunch there." The second we walked into the door, she said, "Wow, literally 3 minutes ago I was thinking of you guys!!!!"
Sooo cool!! She said she is interested but didn't have any time at the moment, and said to come back. A couple days later we went back, and bought a drink with the hopes that she would be there. (Vacant) She wasn't! We sat down and went over our plans, and the impression came to talk to her husband that works there. We went over, and he said, I don't have any time whatsoever to meet. Sorry. Sooo
ya... BUT THAT'S NOT THE End! This guy came around the corner (who worked there), and said I want to come to church with my wife! He gave us His phone number, and stuff! Soo great!

I have really gained a testimony of contacting literally everyone! Even when it's super akward! The Lord leads us to people as He see's our diligence, and how commited we are to following His spirit, and direction. If we want to show that to the Lord, we need to be pumped and talk to people, as many people as possible.

We have been doing a lot of Lumi tyo! (Snow work). This last week we got up on a roof, and shoveled snow for awhile. It was so much fun, and good service. i was tempted to jump off into the huge snow pile, but I figured that if mom found out, I wouldn't hear the end of it for a month! Haha just kidding mom.............. but seriously. Anyways the people we did service for, were so grateful.

It is so cool to hear about Hyrum going into the MTC. Get me, Pj's and His address's, and I'll send them a letter. That was the best in the MTC, getting letter's from your friends. It either made the day, or broke it haha. Also get me Jace Larsens address, and I'll send him a letter too.

As far as birthday things, I really just want my letters from family and stuff. I am really looking forward to my books. Thank you so much for sending them (future tense). Olen kiitolinen siitä, etta minulla on vanhemmat jotka rakastavat minua. He ovat niin rakas minulle erityisesti. Muistakaa, etta olette minun rukouksissani.
Rakastan teita hyvin paljon. (I translated this part and it says he's (some unknown word) that he has parents who love him and he loves us too).

Elder Perry

Monday, February 13, 2012

February 13, 2012

Hey dad, and mom.

This week has been pretty good. We have been able to see a lot of
miracles this week. All is going well.
Our investigator is progressing towards baptism on the 10th of March.
So we're pretty excited about that.

The language is really coming along. I am starting to feel pretty
comfortable speaking it in any situation. I am very grateful for that
aspect. Very good blessing. I know the Lord is taking care of me out
here, and have learned how close He really is. Well I guess another
testimony of how close He is.

I'm working hard, and doing my best.

Thank you for everything, love

Will

Monday, February 6, 2012

February 6, 2011

So one word............. FREEZZZZING!!!

I thought I would pass through this winter without the Finnish winter... Gosh! It has been like -30 outside haha. I learned to like my winter hat! I love it so much however, it is so much better than working in the heat. The sweat dripping down your back, and stuff.... The cold is fine. It motivates us to get inside someones house to teach them haha.

Anyways, I had a lot of life changing moments this week. For one I changed my toothpaste. Second, I decided to adjust my work out system (by actually doing it). Thirdly, I'm just writing things to try and be funny... Fourth, this is getting annoying. haha, but it's called running inside. It is too cold to go running
outside, and so I decided to run inside haha. I did it, and have been doing it everyday. It totally rocks my day!! On splits I got everyone doing it, and they loved it! My district leader called and says he does it every morning now. It rocks the day! I love how this is my news to you haha....................

I remember last week I talked about how I want to be better about contacting everyone! Haha literally. We had a very good experience after District Meeting. We went to go get pizza, and as I was ordering my pizza, I decided to contact an investigator. She listened, but after a second... said, well... maybe if I have time.... Next. haha AKWARD!! but whatever, I tried. But no! This is not the end. She came out to us afterwards, and started asking questions about our church and stuff. Elder Larsen and I are going back this week to "eat pizza." So cool!

We have really been trying just to go crazy. Elder Hunziker sent me a couple talks that really got me going crazy! I learned something about faith. Faith is power, when the mind convinces itself, or has confidence in a certain principle. Which is why it's so important that we give our minds evidence that the gospel is true. Such as by reading the scriptures, recording our experiences in our journals (ewwww ;) ), and learning about other people's experiences. Once we do this over a constistant period, our faith grows, and becomes absolute. I have really been trying to give evidence to my mind that we are called to baptize in this mission. And bring people unto Christ. As I have done that, things have sky rocketed!

Everywhere we have gone, we have talked to people, or at least tried to. It has been so great to see the blessings of the Lord as we have done this. Last night we went to try a less active man who lives in our area about an hour away. We show up, and look on the name list for the building. It looked like he moved. We felt we should tract however. We went up, and started knocking doors. We tracted into this man who's baby was crying in the background. We talked to him about eternal families, and asked when would be a good time to come back. He said he wasn't too interested, however that's when we decided to testify. I felt the spirit confirm that this message is so true to him. He said we could try back some other time, and he
accepted a book of mormon. Soo cool!

Our investigator is doing so great. She came to church yesterday for the first
time, and the ward was so happy about it! Our investigator liked it a lot. However she is not a morning person. haha. She is a very special daughter of Heavenly Father, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have had to work with her.

I can't even really believe it's almost my birthday soon. I'll be 20! Gosh!!! about time to pull out the IRA account haha. I'll no longer be a teenager. Well at least legally... haha. Just think next year I can buy alcohol!!!! Well actually I can legally buy it here... but anyways... jokes... Please mom, don't wonder where you went wrong. ;)

Yeah I can't really think of anything that I would want haha. Maybe you could send me some pictures of everything. Like Dads basement, and everyone haha. That would be cool. I love getting pictures. I look at the ones from Grandma Mckinny's funeral often. That would have been a fun party... uh... gosh... except no because it was a funeral.

Thank you for everything! I love you, and pray for you.

Elder Perry

Friday, February 3, 2012

January 30, 2012

Dear Family,

This week has been very good, and the Lord has blessed us a lot in many different area's. First off, a member from the U.S of A came to town with his family. We went to do service with him at his house. We painted their walls, and built at least one of their bunk beds!! It has been so cool. I love them so much! We are doing something with them today after we finish all the logistics of P-day.

During the service, we worked hard! The kids were running everywhere, and getting paint everywhere!! It was funny, because they kept jumping on us,and telling us they wanted to do the job themselves. I thought to myself, I'm never having children... but I really loved being there. Their 9 year old Granddaughter is so cute! She always makes me sit by her at dinner and stuff haha. We went back on sunday for dinner, and we had a cool experience kind of. We got there early and asked if we could help with dinner. They said no. So we started playing with the children. However we felt like that wasn't the best idea, and we asked to try their neighbors. We went over, and the first one said no, but the second guy said, come back some other time. I have been learning a lesson from the Lord, and from the younger Elder Perry.

When I was a younger missionary, I noticed that I was more focused on the work haha. I didn't ever think about scholariships, or what I'm going to do back home, or etc. That was the key to my success in Joensuu. I worked so hard. However here, I realized that I had set lower expectations of myself. Of course I have been working hard, and trying to do my best. But my attitude has been a little different. I
realized I need to be the weird missionary contacting people at every chance like I use to be.

So this morning, I knelt down and simply asked, Heavenly Father, I'm sorry that I haven't been as enthusiasitic about the work this last week or two. Please help me get on the right track. I really tried to visualize Him. I tried to be close to him, and when I was done praying I went to work. I was thankful for the feeling I received from Him afterwards. I felt that my forgivness would come on the condition that I work harder.

I read a quote from President Erying today. It says, "Lasting spiritual power comes from going beyond the point, where others would take a break." or something like that haha.

But I don't want to give you the impression that I've been slacking off, or anything! haha We had an amazing week!! We have been helping our investigator stop smoking and drinking. We taught her the Word of Wisdom, and of course she accepted it! She set a Baptismal date for February. And her and her sister are going to stop smoking together on Tuesday! I would ask that you would pray for her. SHe is so great, and is improving a ton! I have seen Heavenly Fathers' hand in her life. She went from
someone who didn't think she could believe in God to someone who has faith, and does something about it.

I am so grateful for her, and the changes she has made in her life. Every time we meet with her. I can just see her potential and who she is becoming. She is changing in the Lords' hand's. Soooooo cool! I don't know what it's like to stop smoking or drinking (well...uh... different email - jk) but I know that the Savior knows what she needs. I know that all addictions can be overcome through him. Mental, or physical, because I have seen it in her life.

Well, lot's more happened but as usual, can't tell in my email. The work is going great. The work is true. There is only one right and true message for everyone in this world, and it's this one. THe book is blue, and yes God is a Mormon.

Love you all,

Elder Perry